AICON Manila 2026 to Champion Human-Centered AI Built for the Philippines

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how people work, learn, and make decisions, making conversations about its responsible development more important than ever. With AI becoming a bigger part of everyday life, ` aims to bring together industry leaders, educators, policymakers, and technology professionals to discuss how the Philippines can build an AI future that reflects its own values and priorities. 

The conference will take place on August 25, 2026, at SPACE @ One Ayala Mall in Makati City. Organized by the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP), this year's conference carries the theme "Human by Design: Building the AI Future We Choose." 

The event aims to bring together business executives, technology professionals, educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, and AI practitioners to explore how artificial intelligence can be developed and deployed in ways that reflect Filipino values and address the country's unique needs.

Rather than simply adopting technologies and standards created abroad, AAP believes the Philippines has an opportunity to shape AI in ways that benefit local industries, communities, and society as a whole.

"We have a choice. Rather than merely following trends, the Philippines should dictate what AI's role is in our shared future. This year's AICON is designed to tackle what this future may look like—for our local industries, our workforce, our society—with intentionality in the use of analytics and AI. We want practitioners, business leaders, educators, and policymakers to learn from real implementation experiences and make deliberate choices about building and using AI systems responsibly, centered on people," said Michelle Alarcon, President and Co-Founder of AAP.

AICON Manila 2026 isn't designed to be a showcase of emerging AI technologies alone. Instead, the program emphasizes practical implementation, responsible adoption, and collaboration across industries.

Attendees can expect sessions built around real-world case studies, implementation journeys, demonstrations, lessons learned, and frameworks that organizations can immediately apply within their own operations. Rather than relying on traditional lecture formats, breakout sessions will be conducted as interactive workshops that encourage discussion, knowledge sharing, and hands-on learning.

Beyond the presentations, participants will also have opportunities to connect with analytics professionals, AI experts, business leaders, and technology providers through the conference's ecosystem hub.

What to expect at AICON Manila 2026
This year's conference is expected to welcome around 800 attendees, making it one of the largest AI-focused gatherings in the country.

The program includes:

    Three plenary keynote sessions
    Two panel discussions
    Twenty-four interactive breakout sessions
    An ecosystem hub featuring 24 exhibitors and industry leaders

The event is designed to serve organizations at different stages of AI adoption, whether they are exploring their first AI initiatives or scaling enterprise-wide deployments.

Industry leaders take the stage
AAP has announced an initial lineup of speakers representing academia, banking, telecommunications, enterprise AI, and AI governance.

    Michelle Alarcon, President and Co-Founder, AAP
    Anton Reynaldo Bonifacio, Chief Intelligence and Trust Officer, Globe Telecom
    Sherwin Pelayo, Chair of the Technical Panel on AI and Data Analytics, Commission on Higher Education
    Derick Ohmar Adit, Chief Standards and Certifications Officer, International AI Safety Commission
    Pam Cabudoy, Chief Data Scientist and Group Head for Data Science and Analytics, RCBC
    Jenny Echevarria, Vice President for Enterprise Data and Strategic Services, Globe Telecom

According to AAP, more keynote speakers, panelists, workshop facilitators, and international industry leaders will be announced as the conference program is finalized.

The previous edition of AICON demonstrated the growing interest in AI across the country. In 2025, the conference attracted more than 600 AI professionals and enthusiasts representing 126 organizations from 25 industries, with 28 speakers and 19 exhibitors and partners participating in the event.

By hosting AICON annually, AAP hopes to strengthen collaboration among businesses, educators, researchers, government agencies, and technology professionals while encouraging the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the Philippines.

As AI continues to reshape industries, conferences like AICON Manila 2026 provide a venue for organizations to exchange ideas, learn from real implementation experiences, and discuss how AI can be developed in ways that create meaningful value for both businesses and society.

Registration for AICON Manila 2026 is now open. Those interested in attending can learn more and secure a seat by visiting aicon.aap.ph.

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